Typhoid fever or typhoid is a common health threat in developing countries, especially among children affecting millions of lives yearly. Typhoid is not transmitted from animals. Instead, the infection caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi spreads between individuals through direct contact with a person who has been affected by typhoid.
The bacteria enter through the mouth, from where they spread through other tissues and organs, causing common typhoid symptoms like high fever and flu. Many people also get infected by drinking contaminated food or water. They can be fatal and life-threatening if not treated promptly with antibiotics at an early stage.
Common Symptoms of Typhoid
The signs of this disease appear one to two weeks after the person has been infected. A sustained fever usually characterizes typhoid with a high temperature of about 103° to 104° F. Other common symptoms of typhoid usually include the following,
- Stomach or abdominal pain.
- Headache.
- Diarrhea or constipation.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Muscle aches.
- Dry cough.
- Fatigue and weakness.
- Loss of appetite including weight loss.
- Rashes or faint pink spots may develop on the stomach or chest.
If not treated properly during this stage, the victim may lie motionless and exhausted developing life-threatening complications.
Stages of Typhoid Fever
Symptoms of typhoid fever gradually develop in four stages.
1st stage: The symptoms generally arise five to fourteen days after being infected by Salmonella typhi. The first stage of typhoid symptoms is marked by headache, cough, and mild fever.
2nd stage: During the second stage, a patient may experience high fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, lethargy, weight loss, and hallucinations. Sometimes, rashes also develop on your skin, like small pink dots.
3rd stage: The bacteria cause serious damage during this time, like inflammation of the brain or encephalitis, internal hemorrhage, intestinal damage, and severe dehydration if not treated with antibiotics.
4th stage: During the last stage, you might have a severely high fever with other health complications like infection, kidney failure, pneumonia, infection of the heart, etc. But with proper treatment, most people usually recover at this stage and their fever comes down.
How To Prevent Typhoid
We should maintain proper hygiene and sanitation to prevent typhoid. Safe drinking water and adequate medical care can help to control this disease. But some developing nations do not have access to these conditions. Under such circumstances, experts recommend that vaccines are the best way to prevent typhoid and act as prevention from any typhoid symptoms.
Vaccines
Two types of vaccines are available for typhoid fever, but you require additional doses to stay protected. None of the vaccines are 100% effective. They only lower the risk of getting infected by typhoid, but they don’t guarantee that you will not get typhoid.
- The oral vaccine is given orally in four pills or capsules you must take every other day. However, this form is no longer available at present.
- Vaccines are available for children above two years and adults as a single shot. But you will require a booster shot every two years to keep yourself protected.
Other Preventive Measures
As vaccines are not fully effective, you should always try to follow the below guidelines to lower your risk of getting infected by typhoid.
Avoid Drinking Unclean Water: Never drink unclean or impure water. Always drink bottled water or carbonated beverages to avoid any kind of contamination from water. Never consume ice in any form of drink.
Proper Washing of Your Hands: Always wash your hands with soap or water to reduce any chances of infection. Wash your hands prior cooking food or eating and after using the toilet to protect yourself from any kind of typhoid symptoms. Try to carry an alcohol-based sanitizer and use it whenever water is not available.
Consume Hot Food: Don’t eat street foods and refrigerated food items. Always eat hot food because germs and bacteria never survive in the heat.
Never Eat Raw Vegetables and Fruits: Avoid raw fruits and vegetables like lettuce that cannot be peeled and may have been washed in contaminated water. Always eat cooked or boiled food. Do wash your utensils properly before cooking.
When To Visit A Doctor
In case you have any signs or symptoms of typhoid, you should immediately consult a doctor. Doctors might recommend a blood sample test to determine whether you are infected by typhoid. They commonly use antibiotics to treat typhoid. Common antibiotics used for typhoid treatments are Ciprofloxacin, Ampicillin, Azithromycin, etc.
While treated for typhoid, you should follow a few measures to cure yourself completely from the disease.
- Always complete your antibiotic course as recommended by doctors.
- Intake more fluids and water to avoid dehydration.
- Keep a safe distance from other individuals especially children to lower the risk of contamination.
After all your typhoid symptoms disappear, you should go for another test to check whether you are completely Salmonella typhi bacteria-free. Typhoid is not fatal if diagnosed at an early stage. If your complications persist, you might need additional treatments and need to be admitted to a hospital to fully cure yourself.
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